Psalm 30:11
You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. Psalm 30:11 (NRSVUE)
She had the most beautiful garden in the neighborhood. Bright tulips, daisies and roses filled her yard with bursts of color. Birds and butterflies sang and flittered about. But then an event of great sadness happened in her life & she didn’t feel like planting flowers anymore. Her heart felt heavy. The garden grew quiet and so did she. One day, a child approached her holding a small pot with a tiny daisy. The child said, “I thought your garden looked lonely. This flower needs a home.” She smiled through her tears for the first time in a while. She planted the flower in a sunny spot. The next day, she added another. Little by little, the garden began to bloom again, just like her heart. She looked around and whispered, “Thank you, God, for helping me feel joy again.”
Through seasons of life, there are times that can feel like we are clothed in a heavy, uncomfortable sackcloth that cannot be removed. It can consume our attention & keep us from feeling anything but joy. God doesn’t leave us in our mourning seasons. He steps in – not just to comfort us, but to transform us. He covers us entirely in something new.
Questions for Reflection:
- Have you experienced a season of sadness followed by joy?
- How did you see God at work during this time?
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for being the God who trades our sorrow for joy. Today, help us to lay down our burdens and open our hearts to be clothed in the joy only you can give, even when life is uncertain. Remind us that your presence is our peace and your joy is our strength.
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